Current collecting device



May 3, 1960 1.. FAIVELEY cuRREm'coLLEcTIuc mavzcs 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 26. 1956 M y 1960 I I L. FAIVELEY 2,935,575

CURRENT COLLECTING DEVICE Filed April 26. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet z United States Patent CURRENT COLLECTING DEVICE Louis Faiveley, Paris, France Application April 26, 1956, Serial No. 580,844 Claims priority, application France May 14, 1955 3 Claims. (Cl. rat-6s This invention relates to current collecting devices for electric self-propelling or motor vehicles.

It has as subject a device which is lighter and less bulky than the pantographs used on electric locomotives and more robust than the usual tram trolley-arms.

It is known that in the Watt rocking beam the centre of the link describes a so-called long inflexion curve which deviates very slightly from a straight line.

The applicant has now recognized that, for positions of the centres of rotation of the rocking beam and of the counter-rocking beam situated near the roof, it is possible to determine on the link, which is extended beyond the points of articulation of the two cranks a point such that its trajectory is likewise a long inflexion curve deviating very slightly from the vertical.

By an idea derived from the Watt parallelogram but differing substantially therefrom, the applicant has recognized that it is possible to construct, on the counterrocking beam and the extension of the link as consecutive sides, a quadrilateral, the fourth apex of which likewise describes a long inflexion curve deviating very slightly from the vertical and the fourth side of the quadrilateral is vertical and moves substantially parallel to itself, deviating very slightly on either side from the mean vertical.

For an explanation of the structure and function of the Watt parallelogram reference is made to Lecornu Cours de Mecanique published by Gauthier Villars, Paris, in 1914; and to New Dictionary of Sciences published by Delagrave, Paris, between 1880 and 1900. The parallelogram structure was used in the first steam driven pumps for the English coal mining industry.

Some exemplified embodiments of the principle of the invention will be given hereinbelow, without the applicant intending thereby to limit the generic scope of his invention to the features or 'by the features specific to the example chosen for illustration.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows diagrammatically in elevation a device according to the invention, seen in a direction perpendicular to the trolley wire. It may serve as a diagram to explain the kinematics of the device.

Figure 2 is a diagram giving another solution of the problem.

Figure 3 shows the long inflection curve.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 show, respectively, a plan view, a side elevation, and a front elevation (in the direction of the arrow F in Figure 5) of one embodiment of a device according to the invention in which it will be seen that some elements are divided into two for structural reasons. For the sake of clarity in the drawings the bow is not shown in Figure 4.

Watts terminology will be used in the explanation hereinbelow.

In the drawings, references 1 and 2 denote the horizontal axes of rotation, perpendicular to the vertical plane of the trolley wire, of the rocking beam 3 and of the counter-rocking beam 4. These axes are mounted on the ice 2 chassis 5, which is in turn supported by insulators 6 fastened on the roof of the vehicle.

The axes 1 and 2 not necessarily being in one and the same horizontal plane, the axis 1 of the rocking beam 3 can be mounted directly on the chassis 5, and the axis 2 of the counter-rocking beam may be supported by two uprights 7 solid with the chassis. The rocking beam 3 is formed by a single rod while a link (Figure 4) formed by two arms 8, 9 is articulated with rocking beam 3 by .means of a member 12 on an axis of articulation 10. The counter-rocking beam 4 is articulated at 11 on the part 12 which carries the links 8, 9. The assembly of all the parts 12, 8, 9 is rigid and bent in Figures 2, 4, 5, 6, but is rectilinear in Figure 1. Rods 8, 9 are rigidly connected near their extremities by rod'18'. The length of 1 the links 8, 9, the length of the arms of the rocking beam and of the counter-rocking beam, the distanceseparating the points of articulation 10 and 11, may be determined to cause point 17 to describe a long-inflexion curve deviating slightly from the vertical. This is well known in the practice and forms no part of the invention.

According to the invention it is further possible to settle on the counter-rocking beam (Figure l) or solid with the counter-rocking beam (Figures 2, 4, 5, 6) a point of articulation 13 for a second link 14 of a length such that the point 15 in turn describes a long inflexion curve deviating very slightly from the vertical and said point being such that the fourth side 16 of the articulated quadrilateral 11, 13, .15, 17 (Figures 1, 2 and 5) is vertical. In these conditions the small vertical link 16 moves substantially parallel to itself, deviating very slightly from a mean vertical.

The articulation 17 of Figure 1 is formed (Figures 4 and 6) by a cross bar 18 articulated on the links 8, 9 at 19 and 20. The bow 21 is supported by the crossmember 18.

A spring 22 is made to act, as is conventional, on the rocking beam, tending to open out the articulated device vertically. In Figures 4 to 6 two springs are provided for the same object. In the drawings, this or each spring is shown fastened to a fixed point 23 of the chassis 5 and acting on the rocking beam 3 by a lever 24 which is solidly in rotation with the rocking beam. In practice, conventional means are provided to obtain on the trolley Wire a force which is either constant no matter what the height of the bow or which is variable in accordance with a predetermined law. With this object in view the spring 22 acts through the intermediary of an appropriately calculated cam which is not shown as it is a current technical solution outside the present invention.

The device may be folded up by any usual means, for example by a cord as in the case of conventional trolleyarms or by a servo-motor as in the case of pantographs.

In Figure 2 is shown a dimensioned exemplified embodiment, without it being applicants intention to limit himself specifically to these dimensions, but to show that the problem is capable of being solved kinematically.

In this example, the exact same references have been used as in Figure 1. The construction differs slightly from that given in Figure 1, in that the links 8, 9 are bent at 11 instead of being rectilinear and in that the point 13 is not on the geometric axis of the counterrocking arm, while remaining structurally solid with said counter-rocking arm.

In Figure 3, the path of the classic long inflexion curve described by the point 8 is shown. The maximum deviation on either side from the mean vertical does not exceed 8 millimetres for a vertical development of 2.40 metres.

What I claim is:

1. An articulated current collecting device for an electrically driven vehicle having spaced support means Patented May 3, 1960 second rocking beam in the same vertical plane adaptedto be pivotally mounted at one of their ends respectively on said support means, a first link pivotally connecting the other respective'ends of the said beams, at least one arni fixed at one end to the first link adjacent the second beam, a member pivotally mounted at the other end of the arm in a plane perpendicular to said vertical plane, a bow-type current collector secured to said member, a vertically'downwardly extending element secured at one end to said member, a second link pivotally connected at its ends respectively'to the other end of the vertical element and the second rocking beam adjacent the first link, and means urging one of said rocking beams toward a vertical position to thrust said collector against an elongated, undulatin g conductor supported above the vehicle wherebythecollector is capable of. moving vertically in accordance with. undulations of the conductor during travel of the vehicle.

2. The device as setforthinclaim 1 including a second 4.:- arm fixed at one end to the first link, said arms diverging from said link and being in a plane perpendicular to said vertical plane, the member extending between the other ends of the arms and being pivoted thereon, the vertical element being secured to said member intermediate the ends of the arms.

3. A device as claimed -in;c1aim 1 wherein the point of articulation of the second link on the second rocking beam is outside the geometric axis. of the second rocking beam.

References Cited in;the file of this;,patent UNITED STATES- PATENTS 440,665 Thomson Nov. 18, 1890 1,138,965 Lynch May 11, 1915 FOREIGN PATENTS 18,924 Great Britain Iuly 23, 1908 of 1907 199,088 Great Britain June 21, 1923 

